Senior Mechanical Design Lead — Productized Laser Systems

DiPOLE Systems Ltd; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee share options

Job summary

DiPOLE Systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the mechanical development of next‑generation laser systems at Harwell Campus, Didcot. You will own key design decisions and work with scientists to deliver robust, manufacturable hardware.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and help scale the product from prototype to production while maintaining safety, compliance and documentation standards.

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical CAD experience (Solid Edge preferred; strong equivalents considered).
• Structural design capability, including analysis/FEA and sound engineering judgement for joints, interfaces and assemblies.
• Experience taking complex equipment from prototype through build/test and towards repeatable manufacture (or clear evidence you can lead that transition).
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams and making pragmatic trade‑offs, communicating clearly as you go.
• A strong safety and compliance mindset, with clear technical communication and documentation habits.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design of advanced laser systems from concept through to build, test, manufacture and deployment.
• Own critical design decisions and trade‑offs across performance, reliability, cost and manufacturability.
• Plan and execute structural/thermal/dynamic analysis to de‑risk designs (hands‑on and/or through specialist support).
• Drive design for safety and compliance (pressure/vacuum, lifting, export‑control aware environments, etc.).
• Work day‑to‑day with optical, electrical and systems engineers to deliver integrated, testable subsystems.
• Shape productisation: modularity, serviceability, documentation, supplier engagement and build readiness.
• Mentor and support other engineers as the team grows; set a high bar for engineering quality.

Skills

Mechanical CAD

Structural design

Prototype to manufacture

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Safety & compliance mindset

Tools

Solid Edge

Job description

DiPOLE Systems is seeking a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the mechanical development of next‑generation laser systems at Harwell Campus, Didcot. You will own key design decisions and work with scientists to deliver robust, manufacturable hardware.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and help scale the product from prototype to production while maintaining safety, compliance and documentation standards.